# US 2023/0056546 A1 · Fluid flow structure and method of use for continuous motion washing machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0056546 A1 - Document ID: US20230056546A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/891,915 - Filed: 2022-08-19 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-20 - Assignees: Unified Brands, Inc. - Applicants: Unified Brands, Inc. - Inventors: Michael P. Licata; Richard Seiss; Roger Moore; Robert J. McNamara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230056546A1 ## CPC - A47L 15/08: by application of a pressure effect produced by pumps - A47L 15/4272: {Supporting arrangements for the tub} - A47L 15/0086: {In-sink dishwashers} - A47L 15/0092: {specially adapted to wash large items like pots, trays, baking trays, cooking grids} - A47L 15/4223: {Devices for water discharge, e.g. devices to prevent siphoning, non-return valves} - A47L 15/4246: {Details of the tub (A47L15/4272 takes precedence; insulation arrangements A47L15/4209)} - A47L 15/0076: {of non-domestic use type, e.g. commercial dishwashers for bars, hotels, restaurants, canteens or hospitals (machines specially adapted for drinking glasses A47L15/0065; drawer-type dishwashers A47L15/0084; in-sink dishwashers A47L15/0086; miniature dishwashers A47L15/0089; conveyor-type dishwashers A47L15/24; machines with crockery cleaned by brushes A47L15/37)} - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) ## Abstract A fluid flow structure for a washing machine is located within a wash tank of the washing machine, which includes a fluid flow guide surface, and a support for the guide surface. The guide surface includes at least one region contoured inconsistently from the contour of at least one corresponding wall of the washing machine wash tank. The contour of the guide surface is generally curved so as to aide in reducing and/or preventing the pinning of items that often occurs in rectangular wash tanks of the prior art. The support for the guide surface creates a gap between the guide surface and at least one wall of the washing machine wash tank. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid flow structure for a washing machine wash tank the fluid flow structure comprising: a first support element configured to interface with a wall of the wash tank; a second support element configured to interface with a wall of the wash tank, positioned a first distance from said first support element; and a flow guide positioned between said first and second support elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid flow structure of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second flow guide includes a receiving element positioned along a respective guidance edge of the first and second flow guide, said receiving element configured to receive and support said flow guide. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fluid flow structure of claim 2, wherein said receiving elements are projections which define a shelf, the flow guide configured to rest upon said shelf when positioned between said first and second support elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fluid flow structure of claim 3, wherein each said receiving element is curved, thereby defining a fluid flow path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fluid flow structure of claim 4, wherein each said receiving element includes a hook at each end of said receiving element, each of said hooks configured to restrain an edge of said flow guide, thereby stressing the flow guide element such that it conforms to the curve of the fluid flow path. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fluid flow structure of claim 1, wherein said first support element comprises: an upper edge with a front portion and a back portion, a rear edge with a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion of the rear edge is connected to the rear portion of the upper edge; and a guidance edge, the guidance edge having a curved geometry running from the front portion of the upper edge to the bottom portion of the rear edge, the geometry of the guidance edge defining the general profile of a desired fluid flow path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fluid flow structure of claim 6, wherein said guidance edge further defines a receiving element configured to receive said flow guide, said receiving element including a ledge configured to receive an edge of said flow guide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fluid flow structure of claim 7, wherein said receiving element includes a hook at each end of said receiving element, each of said hooks configured to restrain an edge of said flow guide, thereby stressing the flow guide element such that it conforms to the curve of the fluid flow path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fluid flow structure of claim 1, wherein said flow guide comprises: a surface with a plurality of holes; and a lengthwise edge, said lengthwise edge having two or more projections, wherein one or more of said projections is a securing tab configured to interface with a hook of a receiving element of a support element, and wherein one or more of said projections are gap covers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fluid flow structure of claim 1, wherein said flow guide is configured to resiliently deform along said lengthwise edge to match the profile of such receiving elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fluid flow structure of claim 1, wherein said flow guide has two opposing widthwise edges, said widthwise edge dimensioned such as to coincide with the space between receiving elements of said one or more support element when said support element interfaces with the wash tank. ### Claim 12 A streamlined fluid-flow plate insert structure comprising: a flow guide; one or more support elements; and one or more dividers, wherein the fluid-flow plate insert structure is configured to be selectively placed within a wash tank and supported by one or more surface of the wash tank, the support elements bearing the weight of the structure and providing guidance to shape the flow guide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The streamlined fluid-flow plate insert structure of claim 12, wherein a surface of the flow guide includes a plurality of holes wherein at least one of the holes is a receiving hole for one or more optional dividers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The streamlined fluid-flow plate insert structure of claim 13, wherein the receiving hole is sized to receive a projection of the divider, thereby securing the divider relative to the one or more support elements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The streamlined fluid-flow plate insert structure of claim 14, wherein a plurality of the holes are pass-through holes, the pass-through holes sized such that fluids pass through the holes while one or more articles are unable to pass through the holes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The streamlined fluid-flow plate insert structure of claim 15, wherein the holes provide support for the articles being washed while allowing fluid and waste particles to be removed from the chamber in which the articles reside. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The streamlined fluid-flow plate insert structure of claim 12, wherein the flow guide element is configured to resiliently deform along the lengthwise edge to match the profile of one or more receiving elements of said one or more support elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The streamlined fluid-flow plate insert structure of claim 17, wherein the flow guide element has two opposing widthwise edges, wherein the widthwise edge is dimensioned such as to coincide with the space between receiving elements of one or more support element when the support element interfaces with the wash tank. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The streamlined fluid-flow plate insert structure of claim 18, wherein each widthwise edge includes at least two projections, each of said projections being a securing tab. ### Claim 20 A method for installing a fluid-flow plate insert structure into a wash tank, the method comprising: positioning a support element within a wash tank along a first angle relative to at least one sidewall of the wash tank; interfacing plurality of tabs of the support element with opposing sidewalls of the wash tank; and repositioning the support element to a second angle relative to at least one sidewall of the wash tank, wherein said repositioning applies a force to a securing element of the support element, causing the securing element to move from an unloaded configuration to a loaded configuration, and wherein the support element applies a force to the sidewall when in the loaded configuration, said force assisting in retaining the support element within the wash tank at the second angle.